Hudson river American Shad:

[AndyS]

Commercial and recreational fishing for American shad is prohibited in the Hudson River and the Marine District of New York. Additional Research
2009-2012 Sonic Tagging Project
Tagged 174 adult American shad with sonic transmitters
Collected information on spawning areas, in-river residence times, and migration rates.
The American shad swims upriver to spawn every year in early spring. This large herring once supported the most important commercial fishery on the Hudson. However, its numbers have declined to the point where DEC had to close the fishery in 2010. The agency is implementing an American shad recovery plan to restore the population

[thmyorke1]

Any details about how they're improving the shad fishery? What was the leading cause for it to drop in the first place?

[ianf5]

Maybe I just cant tell the difference between Hickories and American shad but I was catching a ton of shad in the north jersey surf this past fall.

[Lard Almighty]

Originally Posted by ianf5

Maybe I just cant tell the difference between Hickories and American shad but I was catching a ton of shad in the north jersey surf this past fall.

An easy way to tell the difference is that hickory shad have an underbite, while the jaws of an American shad are even length.

[Super]

Originally Posted by thmyorke1

Any details about how they're improving the shad fishery? What was the leading cause for it to drop in the first place?

Some folks think that all the dams in our rivers prevented them from reaching their spawning grounds. I’m sure pollution and over harvesting also have a role.